Charity's interview
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How did all start?
I was a bus driver in 2005, and I had a student beat me. It was shortly (within a month or so) that my symptoms began to appear.
Do you already have a diagnosis? How long did it take you to get it?
I have been diagnosed since 2009, it took 4 years for me to get the diagnosis.
For what medical specialties have you been treated? What has been the most useful specialty for your?
I have been to my family doctor, physical therapy, neurologists, rheumatologist, The Mayo Clinic, and pain management. I believe my Rheumatologist has helped me the most!!
What has been the most useful thing for you so far?
So far not much has helped me, but I am getting ready to do the targeted drug delivery system to see if it will help me.
What have been your biggest difficulties?
Not many doctors in my area know about RSD/CRPS and just think you are a drug seeker, so they treat you like a drug addict. Also not being able to walk and do things with my family due to pain and the loss of ability in my leg.
How has your social and family environment reacted? Have your social or family relationships changed?
I have the support of my family, and always have!! But, all my friends have disappeared!! They all turned their backs on me when I wasn't able to do the things they were doing.
What things have you stopped doing?
Going outside in the winter (unless I have to), going out with friends, going into crowded places.
What do you think about the future?
I don't make future plans, I take things a day at a time and only do things if I feel I can devote 100% to it.
So far, which years have been the best years in your life? What have you done during them?
The first 5 years of my marriage were the best... It was before I ended up with this horrific disease and I was still able to walk and work and spend time with my family doing what we wanted to!!
What would you like to do if you didn’t have your condition?
Take a vacation to the beach and walk on the beach with my husband!!
If you had to describe your life in a sentence, what would it be?
Painful and isolating.
Finally, what advice would you give to a person in a similar situation?
Do not give up hope!!! No matter how bleak the situation may seem, there is always hope that things can get better and that there is someone out there who knows how you feel!!!
